I know I will love this book. @lisasee_writer is just a master of story teller, everytime I read her book, I always want to devour it.
This one has left me with a book hangover.

This book will immerse you in the culture and history, especially medicine in China during the Ming dynasty in the 15th century. After her mother passed away, Tan Yunxian was brought up by her grandparents. Her grandmother is one of a rare female doctor in China, and knowing how intelligent Yunxian is, her grandmother gave her a privilege to learn more .
You'll follow Yunxian / Lady Tan's journey, from a little girl, moved to live with her grandparents, found her bestfriend in Meiling, then being married off and coping with the household politics, following her passion to help other women, and enduring the hardship in her friendship with Meiling.

This book took me to know more about foot binding custom when the young girls’ feet were crushed repeatedly over the years. It's freaking horror!!
I also love the Chinese traditional medicine theme within this book. There are some familiar herbs that I have ever used mentioned in this book.

It's a #recommendedreading of this year! It's written beautifully, with engaging plot, complex characters, and lots of historical knowledge. Lisa See certainly went through another tremendous research to write this book.

This is Lisa See doing what she does so well, and a reminder of why she is one of my favourite authors. As far as COVID projects go, this one is a standout. During that quiet time of lockdown and introspection, See has brought to life a fascinating figure from Chinese history, and made her shine. Structured according to the four stages of a woman's life - Milk Days, Hair-Pinning Days, Rice & Salt Days, and Sitting Quietly - a handful of documented events from Tan Yunxian's life are skilfully woven into a sweeping, unforgettable tale of this Ming-era female doctor, from childhood right through to a grand old age. If, like me, you are enthralled just as much by the author's endnote as by the story itself, then a trawl through all the background material on her website is a must.

In 1469 China, eight year old Tan Yunxian knew she would be married off at fifteen, into an acceptable family, with a husband who matched her sign, the Metal Snake. She'd already been through the binding of her feet which needed to be tended to often, so there was no infection. But her mother was only twenty eight when she died of the serious infection of her feet, and her death caused a drastic change in Yunxian's life. She, along with her servant Poppy, and first concubine Miss Zhao, were sent to Yunxian's grandparent's home, where she'd remain in their care until her marriage, learning to become a doctor like her grandmother. She rarely saw her father as he travelled to the city often. Yunxian made a friend at her grandmother's house, Meiling, who was the same age as she was, and also the daughter of the mid-wife, in training to become one herself. Yunxian's loneliness abated somewhat when she and Meiling played together.

After Yunxian's marriage, and the producing of three daughters, her husband took a concubine to give him a son. Yunxian was sent to Beijing to tend to the Empress, a long journey by water, and there she met up with Meiling again, who was to deliver the Empress' child. Both Yunxian and Meiling were also pregnant, both hoping for the arrival of sons. But there was trouble ahead along with tragedy...

Lady Tan's Circle Of Women is the 2nd I've read by Lisa See and while her writing is exquisite, I found the book overly long and drawn out. I was shuddering over the binding of feet and what happened if it all went wrong; of pregnancy and birth, and the measures taken to avoid the blood. Yunxian was a stong, determined woman, well ahead of her time in her positive outlook to her patients, in a time when doctors weren't meant to be women! Recommended.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

'You must speak if you wish to be heard.'

Lady Tan Yunxian, a woman born into an elite class in China during the 15th Century, decides to tell her story. Her story of class restrictions and expectations, of learning medicine from her grandmother, of life and death, friendship, and the yin and yang of life.

After losing her mother at only eight years old, Yunxian is sent to live with her grandparents. Unusually, not only does her grandmother offer Yunxian an opportunity to learn medicine, but she also offers her granddaughter the gift of friendship with Meiling, the local midwife's daughter. Through the ebb and flow of this lifetime bond, Yunxian learns to look beyond herself and her privileged life and understand the unity that all women share, 'A woman who helps others helps herself.' Reflecting on the four phases of a woman's life: milk years, hair-pinning, rice and salt, and finally sitting quietly, we follow Yunxian's coming of age and wisdom, 'we are all trapped to some extent by our physical and emotional selves, but each woman is trapped in a different way.'

Inspired by a real-life Tan Yunxian, and her actual written medical text, I was utterly transported to the Ming Dynasty: the sights, smells, luscious gardens, intricate dresses, and delicate accouterments. The wealth of detail Lisa See elaborates when relating Chinese cultural, religious values and aphorisms envelop the story with authenticity. Despite Lisa See already having a plethora of firm fans from her previous novels, this is my first. But, after this, it most certainly won't be my last. A wonderful piece of historical fiction that I believe anyone would love.

Oh, my fellow bookworms, you are in for an absolute treat with Lisa See's latest gem, "Lady Tan's Circle." I just finished reading it, and I must say, this book tugged at my heartstrings in the most beautiful way. Lisa See's in-depth research and keen eye for detail are evident on every page, transporting us into the world of Chinese medicine and culture.

Growing up in a Chinese household, I found this book to be a breath of fresh air that reconnected me with my roots. It helped me appreciate the yin and yang, the balance of life and the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine. We often overlook the knowledge passed down through generations, but this book makes you want to delve deeper and learn more about it.

Lisa See makes you believe in concepts like "wind entering symptoms" and other aspects of Chinese medicine, so much so that you might think twice before dismissing them. She has an uncanny ability to make history come alive, and her storytelling is captivating.

If you're in the mood for a heartwarming and beautifully written historical fiction that is also easy to read, look no further than "Lady Tan's Circle." Trust me, this book will warmly embrace you, and you won't want to put it down. So, get cozy, grab a cup of tea, and get ready to embark on a remarkable journey through Chinese history and medicine with Lisa See as your guide. You won't be disappointed!